The second phase of the Project to Support the Operationalisation of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Agricultural Policy has received additional funding of €10 million from the European Union (EU), the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Isaac dos Anjos, stated this Thursday in Luanda.
Speaking at the launch ceremony of the project known as “Stosar 2”, the minister announced that Angola will receive €250,000 of the total amount to finance Government programmes.
He added that the funding, to be disbursed over a four-year period, will operationalise the agricultural policy of Angola and other SADC member states.
He stressed that the continuation of the project in Angola will strengthen animal health, including the monitoring and mitigation of impactful transboundary diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease, peste des petits ruminants, and highly pathogenic avian influenza, which affect the trade of animals and animal-origin products.
“As with Stosar 1, launched in 2019, the new project phase will intensify the promotion of food security, economic development, poverty reduction and regional integration through agriculture,” he said.
On the other hand, Isaac dos Anjos acknowledged that the country still faces many challenges that require a comprehensive approach, including data gaps, changes in dietary patterns, policy weaknesses and limitations in knowledge sharing.
According to the minister, Angola also has gaps in the collection of appropriate data and in assessing food availability, as well as in preparing a comprehensive food balance sheet.
Developed by the SADC Secretariat in partnership with FAO, Stosar 2 emerged through an extensive consultative process with member states, based on lessons and results from phase 1.
The initiative focuses on improving market access for plant and animal production in the region, strengthening the capacity of SADC member states within the framework of international export requirements, and improving the competitiveness of the region’s agricultural products on the global stage.
The first phase, implemented over four years, involved €9 million in funding, also from the European Union, to promote agricultural activity in 16 countries of the region.
According to the phase-one report, the project also provided technical support to more than 86 professionals from the Agrarian Development Institute (IDA) in the provinces of Luanda, Bengo, Huambo, Benguela, Huíla, Namibe, Bié and Cuanza-Sul.
Source: Angop
